To need anti depressants to enjoy life?

[Miseryhatescompany]

I don’t feel like I’m a “proper” depressed person. I have always been very anxious, obsessive and fixate on things, but have rarely had very low moods where I struggle to function, get out of bed etc. My main symptoms are irritability, rage and a huge feeling of blah.

I started taking Sertraline 3 years ago when I was particularly bad, had a young baby, 3 year old DC and really needed to snap out of it. It was amazing and I felt better after only a few days. I wanted to stop taking it after only a few months, but Covid hit so I delayed it due to the unknown. I tapered very slowly over the course of a year and came off Sertraline altogether at the beginning of this year.

In the last few months I’m back to snappy, irritable, losing it with my kids. I can’t pretend I didn’t have this whilst I was on the medication, but it wasn’t every day, and I had overwhelming moments of happiness and gratitude. I haven’t had that since the spring.

On paper my life is fine. Two DC, 6 and 3. Both challenging but nothing compared with what some people deal with. Stable (if dull) jobs for DH and me, decent pay, both full time but fairly flexible hours, bit of childcare help from family. Not flush but no money worries and could afford a nice holiday this summer. Lucky to both be in good health. Nice house in a nice area.

I have asked the doctor to rewrite my prescription. I feel like a fraud because I rarely cry, I’ve never once had a day off sick due to mood, I just get on with my day. I don’t lose my temper with colleagues. I function, I just don’t enjoy it. And am so irritable. My relationships with everybody I live with are suffering but I just don’t feel able to be happy with what others must be content with?

By the way, I take it the PP who said they shouldn't be used as a crutch has never had depression?
If it was that easy to just exercise to gain endorphins, why would my psychiatrist happily prescribe an SSRI for 28 years?!
Endorphins are not serotonin and in a depressed state, however much you wish you could, positive thinking isn't possible
Why do you think psychiatric hospitals exist( of which I have been an inpatient countless times over the years!
You have no idea!

Thank you so much for this thread OP. I was in tears on the phone to my GP yesterday as I have felt similar to you for years but my PMT is now so bad I asked for help. She’s going to do some tests for peri menopause but suggested AD’s if my hormone levels are normal. I was worried about taking them but your and other posts have made me feel so much better about it. Thank you so much!

perenniallymessy did you mean you feel alright on prozac? I too feel better on it and i dont know anyone onnit at all as most people i know are on certraline so i am intrested in yr experience?

Ignore me , ive just rw read( properly)
.
Op all the best. There is no shame in ad s at all.
I have read the research saying ssrs now not proven to help with serotonin.. on a personal level and that of others , i really do feel they help the brain. I am big on meditation and exercise, and yes they can increase happy hormones but sometimes I feel the boost of ad is so protective of mental wellbeing and is consistant.

I also just wanted to post and say thank to the OP and others who shared their experiences. Been following this thread for a few days.

I have always struggled with anxiety and finally took sertraline for about 1.5 years when circumstances brought me to the point of not coping. Life is now completely different and back on an even keel, so I carefully tapered myself off over the summer.

A couple of months off and I realised I'm not ok. All the old anxious feelings are back even though, rationally, I know nothing is wrong.

Thank you for this post and making me feel like it's ok to rethink my ideas and prejudices about taking them longer term.

I've been on them since May and they've transformed me completely. I don't particularly plan to ever come off them. They've also had the effect of making me drive so much better , paradoxically it was an minor accident (my fault) that led to me going to the doctors for help. And driving safely is important !

And to previous Pp, I do yoga every day , and have had cbt. I was actually referred for high intensity cbt but after starting on medication found I didn't need it, I went to the session to explain I thought I was ok and the therapist agreed and explained that the medication wouldn't have worked so well if my anxiety and depression was due to trauma, it isdue to biological imbalance, most likely menopause in my case

I used to take ADs and found them fabulous. I've never personally believed the brain chemicals stuff though. I honestly just think life is just bloody hard, long, dull and stressful. We spend most of our time working to live, in various pointless, dull roles. And therefore is it any wonder that a dose of a drug that flattens those anxious or sad or angry feelings makes life much more bearable? I no longer take them but if I was to plummet again in the ibis of 'life is pointless' again, I wouldn't hesitate to take them.

Couldn't have said it any better than the first post!

What is your basis for saying that anti-depressants should primarily be a short term treatment? That isn't current practice or clinical advice.

@uncomfortablydumb53

Psychiatrists will happily prescribe drugs forever because they’re doctors and that’s what they do. My Nan spent a lifetime on heavy dosage psych drugs but was finally able to come off them when she received the correct, therapeutic treatment.

She was also unfortunately subject to electric shock treatment by a psychiatrist. Doesn’t mean it wasn’t a barbaric practice though.

@Dalaidramailama
I'm sorry for what your Nan went through and I do know what ECT involves
It wasn't so long ago patients lived behind locked doors in asylums
Times move on and medical advances bring different options for effective treatment
I know my antidepressants keep me stable.. and alive
I had to come off them during my( unexpected) 3rd pregnancy... and guess where I ended up?.. As an inpatient in a psychiatric unit so for me personally it's a chemical imbalance.

Just wanted to chime into say I hear you, OP.

I take fluoxetine (Prozac). I’ve been on it for about 8 years. Had two periods of about 6 months during that time where I’ve come off it and each time - despite pretty good self care and nothing being particularly up in my life - I slide into an irritable, discontent, low mood. I also function extremely well in terms of job, keeping my shit together outwardly etc. I just feel shit.

I’ve decided I just do better on SSRIs than without, just like I do better when I exercise, meditate, get enough sleep etc. And they definitely help with my PMT rage. So, fuck it. I’m all in for as long as necessary.

Interestingly, I was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult. I think there is some research to say low dose SSRIs can be helpful for inattentive type ADHD and for helping with executive functioning. It certainly feels that way for me.

It's been known for years that antidepressants work by placebo effect. They're given out like sweeties because they're cheap and don't harm the body much. I don't see the harm in taking them long term though. If people believe antidepressants help them then that's all good, crack on and enjoy life!

MbatataOwl please
evidence the statement that its been know for year s that ad are placebos ?

If they do nothing and it's all placebo how come psychiatrists have told me I'm categorically not allowed them at all anymore (have to have mood stabilisers and anti psychotic) due to 2 different ones triggering extreme mania and psychosis resulting in me being sectioned?
They most definitely do do something to the brain, it is not a placebo.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4172306/

^ scroll through and you'll find links trials and analysis.

They most definitely do do something to the brain, it is not a placebo

You think antidepressants causing mania in bipolar patients = antidepressants not a placebo for depressed or anxious patients?

Definitely not a placebo. I've been astounded by their effect. And my dog has them too and doesn't even know he has them so that's obviously not a placebo 🙄

stillherenow

im sorry . I’m dying to know how your dog was , and now is !?

Just for information, because lots of posters are saying depression is caused by a chemical imbalance:

amp.theguardian.com/society/2022/jul/20/scientists-question-widespread-use-of-antidepressants-after-survey-on-serotonin

It was the dog that persuaded me to go on them as he just slept initially and I felt his tension go a little! I remember lying weeping on the bed next to him in the middle of the afternoon and realising I wanted what he had , I sent an online request to the Gp and ten mins later they called me and said absolutely try the medication !!

He's a lot better thanks, still anxious out and about but super relaxed at home now (a rescue). It took the fear of antidepressants away for me , and I learnt about how they work .

If being on the meds gives my son a normal happy mother ill take them

@Sillyholiday that's how I feel, I feel I owe it to my children to be honest to be patient and not constantly irritable and shouting at them.

I started taking 25mg sertraline on Thursday (doctor prescribed the low dose initially as I had been doing fine on 25mg for a long time when I started tapering off) and have since had nausea and diarrhoea which I thought was a side effect initially but vomiting has now joined and DH had nausea/dodgy stomach earlier in the week so I’m pretty sure it’s a bug! Don’t suppose my body will have actually absorbed any of the medication so will have to wait a bit longer to see the positive effects…

I started Sertraline a few months ago, it feels like the clouds have lifted and the sun has come out.

I did feel so nauseous and so I now take mine before I go to bed, the change I feel is unbelievable.

I have spoken to lots of people and don't hide it, if we need them we need them. No need to struggle on xxx

@PurplePositivity do you mind me asking what your mood was like before them? I've been prescribed them too but have been reluctant to take them. I'm not even really sure why. I guess I don't believe they'll actually work or something / that my mood is down to something they won't fix